Chapter 61

Bella.

As Daniel and I bid each other farewell, a flutter of butterflies danced in my stomach. He insisted that I enter my apartment first to ensure my safety, while I countered by urging him to drive off before me—a small gesture of gratitude on my end.

I never imagined myself doing something like this for anyone, or with anyone, anytime soon. However, he managed to coax me out of my shell and create a memorable experience, which I cherished deeply. I felt immensely thankful for his considerate nature and willingness to accommodate my occasional dramatic tendencies.

After a back-and-forth, he won, and I entered my apartment before him, allowing him to confirm my safety. It had been ages since I last experienced butterflies and these feelings toward someone. It unsettled me that he could rekindle such emotions, considering my current focus on other priorities where relationships didn't feature prominently.

I couldn't definitively claim to have romantic feelings for him—that would be too extreme. Yet, I couldn't deny the level of attraction I felt, which extended beyond his physical appearance. It was his overall attitude towards me and in general that drew me in—an attitude I appreciated and could relate to on various levels.

Earlier, I mentioned my intention to avoid such feelings, but contemplating it now, I realized it would be challenging to accomplish. During our journey back today, he explicitly stated that he wouldn't allow me to successfully avoid him. He made it clear that he would persist in his efforts to help me open up and develop feelings for him, just as he had fallen for me.

However, besides his determination not to let me evade him, I didn't want to avoid him either. I genuinely enjoyed his company, and I wasn't prepared to let go of the comfort he brought into my life.

Arriving at my apartment door, I entered the passcode slowly, ensuring minimal noise to avoid alerting others that I had returned past midnight. I hadn't intended to stay out so late, but the distant location we visited coupled with unexpected traffic delays caused the delay.

I fervently hoped and prayed that Nelly was fast asleep, as I couldn't bear to deal with her dramatic reaction on discovering my late arrival. It wouldn't surprise me if she had stayed awake, eagerly awaiting my return just to tease and provoke me.

Carefully and silently, I pushed the door open, removing my heels beforehand to avoid making any noise. Considering the time of night, I didn't expect Nina to be awake. She typically retired early and had no reason to be up at this hour.

Similarly, I hoped that Nelly was already in a deep slumber, as her bedroom neighbored mine, and any noise would easily reach her if she were still awake.

On entering the living room, relief washed over me as it was shrouded in darkness, indicating that everyone else had already retired to bed. Anxious to reach my own bedroom, I hastened my steps. However, my progress came to a sudden halt when I noticed a figure seated in the dining area. Shock overwhelmed me as I turned to see who it was.

Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to find Nina awake at this time of night, sitting in the darkened dining area. The initial shock on my face quickly transformed into a mix of confusion and anger.

"Can you give me a valid reason for sitting here like this at such a late hour? Do you realize how eerie and unsettling you appear right now?" I hissed, my irritation evident, with no effort to hide my frustration.

My anger stemmed not only from her presence but also from the fact that she hadn't given any indication of being there, such as turning on the lights or making a sound when I entered. The fact that she sat silently, resembling a ghost, was highly annoying. It could have easily given me a heart attack had my eyes not detected her presence.

Nina and I hadn't engaged in a genuine conversation for a considerable amount of time, particularly after the incident involving Daniel. She continuously claimed that I had done something wrong by choosing to maintain my friendship with him, despite her strained relationship with him.

In the past few weeks, she had been displaying a negative attitude towards both Nelly and me. We had made the decision to allow her to behave as she pleased, as we couldn't keep begging her to communicate with us when she persistently shut us out, painting us as irrational for attempting to engage with her.

"Do you honestly think you have any right to be upset with me right now? You're the one arriving home late at night and sneaking around like a thief. Don't try to deflect this and make it about me when you're the one behaving indecently," she accused, and when I say my jaw dropped, it truly did.

I couldn't believe the nonsensical words that had just escaped her lips, and her unwavering expression indicated that she genuinely meant every word. It was utterly surprising to me.

Never in my life had I been called or labeled as indecent, so the audacity she had to refer to me in such a manner, solely because I arrived home late, was beyond irritating. I had a feeling that tonight would be the night when I finally put her in her place.

"You must be out of your mind, Nina. There's no other explanation for the garbage you just uttered. How dare you label me as indecent? What gives you the right to make such a judgment?" I questioned furiously.

She scoffed. "Are you asking me this question because you genuinely don't know, or are you pretending to be clueless about your own indecency? Tell me, what kind of respectable woman returns home late at night and attempts to sneak in? Your behavior wouldn't be so sneaky if you didn't already acknowledge deep down that it's reproachable," she retorted, and I couldn't believe my ears.

My anger surged, and an intense urge to slap her across the face consumed me. However, I quickly remembered the lovely evening I had just experienced, and I couldn't allow someone as bitter and deranged as Nina to ruin my mood.

"Listen, Nina. I am a grown adult, and I have no obligation to explain myself or justify my actions to you or your nonsensical accusations. Feel free to make your bold assumptions about me because, at the end of the day, it's none of my concern, and whatever you say holds no power over me," I responded calmly, attempting to continue my journey to my bedroom.

Yet, once again, she halted me with her words.

"You're dating that shameless bastard, Daniel Russo, aren't you? Even after knowing how much I detest him, you shamelessly chose him over your friend, and yet, you have the audacity to argue that I'm wrong to call you indecent?" she interrogated, and my fists clenched in anger.

"If you ever thought for a moment that I would end my friendship with Daniel simply because of you, let me clarify that you were delusional. I do not inherit the enemies of others, and you still haven't explained to me why you despise him so much. I won't even bother asking you to elaborate because I no longer care. But don't you dare try to guilt-trip me for minding my own business," I warned her sternly.

I genuinely wanted to understand why she harbored such intense hatred toward Daniel. I couldn't fathom a valid reason for her anger and bitterness towards him.

However, considering Nina's demeanor in recent weeks, I had made up my mind to mind my own business. Getting involved in their dispute would only put me in an uncomfortable position.

"You are a shameless individual, and I am utterly disgusted by your shamelessness, all because of a man. I used to believe you were better than this, but now it's evident that you're not a good person, and you've become a desperate whore solely because of a man," she declared, leaving me with a sigh of resignation.

I didn't want it to come to this point between Nina and me. I'm not one to resort to violence or engage in physical altercations, regardless of the circumstances. However, Nina's relentless pushing had reached its limit, and her derogatory remark, calling me a whore, crossed the line. It provided more than enough justification for me to lose my composure. I refused to stand idly by and allow her to continue insulting me.

"Nina, you are utterly despicable. I've had my fill of your senseless behavior. You have five seconds to apologize for what you just said, or else I will erase any memory of our friendship and make sure you learn a lesson," I threatened, taking purposeful steps closer to her.

"You will always be a whore, Bella, and nothing can change that," she responded.

Without a trace of remorse, I swiftly slapped her across the face at that very moment.